Amberley to Arundel walk

South Downs in the morning, then follows the river Arun to Historic Arundel (Castle, Cathedral)

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Sat, 04-Feb-23 Saturday Walk: Amberley to Arundel 2 cloudy
Sat, 24-Oct-20 Saturday Walk Amberley to Arundel - the South Downs Way, the village of Burpham, the River Arun and Arundel Park 13 cloudy and windy with occasional fine rain
Sat, 06-Jul-19 Saturday walk - Amberley to Arundel book two plus one 16 blazing hot sunshine
Wed, 15-Feb-17 Wednesday Walk - up and over the South Downs to Arundel 16 driving
Sun, 07-Dec-14 Amberley to Arundel 2
Sat, 24-Aug-13 Amberley to Arundel 5
Sat, 28-Jan-12 Amberley to Arundel
Sat, 27-Aug-11 Amberley to Arundel
Sun, 17-Oct-10 Amberley to Arundel
Sat, 24-Jul-10 Amberley to Arundel
Sun, 28-Mar-10 Amberley to Arundel
Sun, 14-Sep-08 Amberley to Arundel
Sat, 17-May-08 Amberley to Arundel
Sat, 12-Jan-08 Amberley to Arundel
Sat, 22-Sep-07 Amberley to Arundel
Sun, 15-Oct-06 Amberley to Arundel
Sat, 07-Oct-06 Amberley to Arundel
HollieB
HollieB
9 miles/14.5 km
This walk takes you on a steady climb up onto the South Downs, before heading down for lunch at the village of Burpham. The route then follows the River Arun into Arundel.
Trains: 09:35 London Victoria, (09:42 Clapham Junction, 09:53 East Croydon), 10:58 Amberley. Return trains from Arundel at xx:13/xx:46. Buy a day return to Arundel.
Lunch: The George, Burpham. This is a popular pub in a lovely setting, worth phoning ahead for a table (01903 883131).
T=2.22
  • 05-Feb-23

    Just 2 on a cloudy day. Up along and down to Burpham Fairly dry underfoot.

    . After sandwiches on the seat, a quick visit to the George, it was off along the river.

    We were both agreed - the river is not the most exciting part of this walk. The reeds were pretty but only for so long. Not for miles and miles with stiles and stiles. A flock of geese provided some light relief.

    When Arundel was reached, we went straight to the station, just in time to miss the 15.15.

Amberley to Arundel

Opening leg of Book 2 Walk 22 then switching to reverse of Book 1 Walk 32

Length: 17 km (10.6 miles) Lots of options to go longer or shorter
Toughness: 6.5 out of 10
London Victoria: 09-35 hrs Southern service to Bognor and Southampton Central CJ 09-42; EC 09-53 hrs
Arrive Amberley: 10-57 hrs
Return

Arundel to Victoria: 13 and 45 mins past the hour
Rail ticket Buy an off-peak day return to Arundel
Please see - and comply with - our Covid Rules
This mix-and-match walk combines (arguably) the best bits of two of our popular walks in the area. Leaving Amberley railway station we start by following the directions in the Book 2 walk up High Titten (road) and skirt by Downs Farm to proceed along the South Downs on a section of the South Downs Way more-or-less all the way to the village of Burpham, the suggested place to stop for your picnic: there are benches outside the church, opposite the pub, and also in the nearby cricket ground. Said pub, The George has a number of outside tables for dining if it is warm enough on the day: bring some extra layers if you plan to have a pub lunch here - the food is usually very good.
After lunch we switch to the Book 1 walk - in reverse - which takes us beside the River Arun then along a pleasant woodland path above the river before we enter the grounds of the Duke of Norfolk's modest back garden - Arundel Park. Up some steep paths to then enjoy a lovely view as we descend through parkland before leaving the park and entering the town. You should have time to visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral but not the Castle today. Drop down the road through the centre of Arundel, where you should find some pubs and a tea shop open for post walk refreshments. It is a fifteen plus minute walk from the town centre to the railway station.
T=2.22
Walk Directions Book 2 walk here: L=2.22 and the Book 1 walk here

  • 24-Oct-20

    12 at the station with 1 joining at lunch makes 13 . The weather was cloudy and windy with occasional fine rain The heavier stuff held off till we were back on the train. We split into 6, 4, and 2 at the back. The morning was easy-peasy, especially for me as I had an audio guide in the shape of the walk's author. Not so the afternoon. Apart from being tougher, this Book 1 half wasn't an easy walk to do backwards. Too many twists and turns. My cunning plan to follow some others wasn't so cunning. We were soon lost. But we did eventually get back on track. I thought I'd be able to this walk from memory but it turns out memory doesn’t work so well in reverse. After a steep climb up into Arundel Park and several uneasy feelings of lostness (we weren’t), we arrived in Arundel ahead of the others. (How, I'll never know). Most ate at the George lunchtime. Staff very friendly.

  • 24-Oct-20

    But a nice walk all the same.

  • 27-Oct-20

    I will add to my "to do" list a note to write up the walk directions "backwards".

  • 30-Oct-20

    Done

Length: 14.5km (9 miles) or 21km (13 miles)
Toughness: 5 out of 10 to Arundel: 7 out of 10 after Arundel

9.36 train from Victoria (9.43 Clapham Junction, 9.53 East Croydon) to Amberley, arriving 10.57.

Buy a day return to Arundel, if you intend to end there, or to Amberley, if you plan to do the longer circular walk. If you are not sure, get a day return to Arundel.

For walk directions click here. For GPX click here. For a map of the route click here.

For the extension from Arundel to Amberley, walk directions are here (start in the centre of Arundel by walking up the high street and follow the directions from paragraph 6), the GPX is here and a map is here.

The “book two” Amberley to Arundel does not get a lot of outings these days and due to its length tends to be confined to winter or midweek walks. This is a pity as it makes a lovely crossing of the South Downs, which at this time of year also has interesting wildflowers and butterflies. There is then a riverside walk into Arundel, with fine views of the castle, which is a lot nicer in summer than in winter mud.

One problem with the walk is that its lunch stop, the very nice George & Dragon pub in Burpham, can be very booked up (though it now does food on Saturdays to 3pm, not 2pm as stated in the walk’s home page). It is also two thirds of the way into the walk, leaving a very short afternoon at this time of year.

It occurs to me, though, that a solution would be to do the whole book two walk in one go (8.5 miles or so to Arundel town) and then have a late lunch there - there are lots of options. (Or lunch in Burpham and have tea in Arundel: again, lots of options.) After lunch/tea those that still have lead in their pencils could switch to the morning of the book one Arundel to Amberley walk. If you look at the Walk Options section of its directions you will see that they include an option to turn left along the river after the hilly Arundel Park and get back to Amberley in around 4.5 miles - a 13 mile circular walk in all. (Or there are even longer options outlined in the Walk Options for those who want them).

In Amberley the Bridge Inn is the reliable tea stop: or the Riverside Tea Room if you can get there before it closes at 5pm.

Trains back from Amberley are at 17 past to 21.17 (last train!)

Trains back from Arundel are at 13 and 46 past until 21.46

T=2.22
  • Anonymous
    05-Jul-19

    Hi, New to group. What is the most wooded walk on Saturday? Keen on cover! Thank you very much.

  • Anonymous
    05-Jul-19

    On the proposed afternoon leg, having left Arundel Park through the gate in the wall, shouldn't one turn left for Amberley instead of left for Arundel as stated?

    Should the title of the post not be AMBERLEY TO ARUNDEL BOOK TWO PLUS ONE?

  • 05-Jul-19

    Re wooded walk: I would say the Balcombe one, probably. Re the other points, will correct if I can

  • 06-Jul-19

    16 on this walk, including one late starter. To our surprise the weather was blazing hot sunshine , the forecasted cloud remaining to the north till early evening, when the lower temperatures it brought were quite welcome. The morning of the walk was as flowery as promised, with particularly good displays of bright blue chicory flowers - acres of them in fact. Views were sharp and clear, including the distant sea.

    Several of us opted for the higher route over Wepham Down mid morning. Why this is an alternative and not the standard route I do not know, as it has magnificent views in its later stages. The walk directions say it is liable to be muddy in winter, but it was hard to believe it could be that much muddier than any other part of the walk. Those who did the standard route down the valley found it dull, with high hedges blocking the view.

    In Burpham a wedding was taking place, but fortunately the reception was taking place in a nearby field rather than the pub, so all who wanted to eat in the George & Dragon were accommodated with ease. We sat at outside tables, with swifts screaming overhead, and only around fifteen cars squeezing past to get to the happy event. The onward walk took us through the wedding reception field (odd to be walking among the smartly dressed in walking kit) and on along the dreamy river bank with fine views of Arundel Castle. It was very hot and not a little humid on this section and on reaching Arundel at 3pm I certainly felt I had done a full walk. But it is wonderful what a bit of cake and a large amount of tea can do, and after it eight of us set off to walk back to Amberley through the rolling downland of Arundel Park.

    At its northern end we had a sit down to admire the glorious view - the North Downs clearly visible. Down by the river we encountered a flooded path at one point - due to high tide, I think - but got round it fairly easily by diverting up through Houghton to the South Downs Way. We finished in the garden of the Bridge Inn with drinks and nice hot snacks for some (soup, whitebait, samosas, spring rolls) and got the 7.17 train.

    Did the other eight finish in Arundel?

Book 2, Walk 22 - Amberley to Arundel ( a mix and match with Book 1 walk)

Length: from 14.5 km (9 miles) to 17.7 km (11 miles)
Toughness: 6 out of 10

London Victoria: 10-36 hrs (Bognor Regis train). CJ 10-42 hrs EC 10-53 hrs
Arrive Amberley: 11-55 hrs

Return: Arundel to Victoria: 16-12, 16-46, 17-12, 17-47 and 18-12

Rail ticket: buy a day return to Arundel

Posting of walk subject to Southern Rail strike action - disruption to timetable

Many of my favourite walks have been un-doable for many a month due to the disruption to Southern Rail's excuse for a train service - but lets tempt fate and live dangerously today by attempting this lovely walk - a hybrid of two of the best TO Book walks: the start of Book 2, Walk 22, and post lunch, the reverse of the opening leg of Book 1, Walk 32 which takes you through the Duke of Norfolk's modest back garden (the old ones are the best ones.......).

The late start means you need to maintain a healthy pace up and over the Downs if you are to make the lunch stop in time - the George at Burpham - e.t.a 13-40 hrs - please 'phone ahead with numbers: 01903-883131.

Senior Railcard Holders: aka our old fogies - you have the option of taking the train one hour earlier - the 09-32 hrs from Victoria, arriving Amberley 10-55 hrs, and having a more leisurely morning's walk which could encompass an initial sweep of Amberley Wild Brooks (the reverse of the Book 1 closing leg) provided that they are not waterlogged, before setting out on the Book 2 walk. With the preamble your e.t.a at the George would be circa 13-20 hrs. I suggest after lunch old and young set out together on the very nice afternoon leg. Should weather conditions be unkind today you have the option of taking the shorter, direct route (the Book 2 route) beside the River Arun all the way into Arundel, where you have a choice of tea stops and pubs.

T=2.22
Directions here: L=2.22


Next Week Wednesday 22 February SWC Walk 7 - Knockholt Circular




  • Anonymous
    12-Feb-17

    Any bad boy rumours about me are completely unfounded. I will be trotting along obediently at the back so any admirers know where to find me. Peace.

    Max the dog.

  • Anonymous
    13-Feb-17

    Dear marcus,

    thank you very much for posting this walks at long last. Please note I have also written a new walk from Amberley which is beautiful too but as yet unfinished as on one occasion I ended up in a tank training enclosure then I was stopped by rain . I hope to venture with other adventurous souls to find the remainder of this new walk in early April jfk

  • Anonymous
    14-Feb-17

    where have all comments gone ? anyways my human has a dodgy hip, poor old thing, and so we may not go anyway..ho hum..Max the dog.

  • 15-Feb-17

    I am doing the walk Today. So I will see you there.

  • 16-Feb-17

    Well, where to begin...this was quite a day out.... 14 emerged into the mist from the VERY delayed posted train (including the more experienced members of the group who surprised the less experienced members by piling onto the train the stop before Amberley having encountered a series of delays and cancellation on their earlier train).... Apparently 2 others did manage an earlier start of the walk but with our delayed start we never saw them en route. Given the late arrival and concerns over getting to the lunch pub in time, we set off at a brisk pace up the ridge in driving rain. This route is very nice and definitely holds the promise of lovely views under better weather conditions. Once the rain eased up a bit, the low cloud and mist on the hills was very atmospheric. Lunch at the George was a vast improvement over last week's fiasco -- a warm and cozy pub with good quality food. As it is a popular pub -- advance bookings are advised in the future. Once satiated, we set off on a more relaxed pace to Arundel doing the Book 1 route in reverse -- up the river for a spell then up the hill into Arundel Park. All agreed that this combination generates a great route borrowing the best parts of two different walks. Conditions finally dried and we were treated to two rainbows en route and some beautiful low sunshine on Arundel Castle when we arrived. Seven then retired to the White Hart for a post walk tipple and then, properly provisioned for the journey home, caught the 18:12 where we were greeted by a very friendly Southern guard who inquired whether we were a club or friends -- the reply from our party, a club and sometimes friends....Another great day out notwithstanding the auspicious start and damp conditions!

  • Anonymous
    02-Jan-18

    Historical duplicate/misleading attendance numbers cleanup project: 16